Checking young kids

You can always take pictures yourself for monitoring.  As far as growth, you are looking for ASYMMETRICAL GROWTH.  Moles that grow symmetrically are fine in kids.  You are looking for the mole that grows abnormally and/or irregularly.  It doesn't hurt to have a derm look at your kids on occasion – it will get them in the habit for the future.  But I don't think you want to make a big deal out of it either.  You don't want to scare them or make it a bad experience.  Maybe if you are watching and their GP does a skin exam? 

Just for perspective, almost every young child that I've ever seen diagnosed on this site is from a family that has NO family history.  Having said that, if you do have a strong family history, seeing a diagnosis at an early age is more common if a genetic defect is involved.  But even then, I think you are looking at older than your kids are now – late teens and twenties.  I have a genetic defect and was diagnosed at 29.

You can always take pictures yourself for monitoring.  As far as growth, you are looking for ASYMMETRICAL GROWTH.  Moles that grow symmetrically are fine in kids.  You are looking for the mole that grows abnormally and/or irregularly.  It doesn't hurt to have a derm look at your kids on occasion – it will get them in the habit for the future.  But I don't think you want to make a big deal out of it either.  You don't want to scare them or make it a bad experience.  Maybe if you are watching and their GP does a skin exam? 

Just for perspective, almost every young child that I've ever seen diagnosed on this site is from a family that has NO family history.  Having said that, if you do have a strong family history, seeing a diagnosis at an early age is more common if a genetic defect is involved.  But even then, I think you are looking at older than your kids are now – late teens and twenties.  I have a genetic defect and was diagnosed at 29.

You can always take pictures yourself for monitoring.  As far as growth, you are looking for ASYMMETRICAL GROWTH.  Moles that grow symmetrically are fine in kids.  You are looking for the mole that grows abnormally and/or irregularly.  It doesn't hurt to have a derm look at your kids on occasion – it will get them in the habit for the future.  But I don't think you want to make a big deal out of it either.  You don't want to scare them or make it a bad experience.  Maybe if you are watching and their GP does a skin exam? 

Just for perspective, almost every young child that I've ever seen diagnosed on this site is from a family that has NO family history.  Having said that, if you do have a strong family history, seeing a diagnosis at an early age is more common if a genetic defect is involved.  But even then, I think you are looking at older than your kids are now – late teens and twenties.  I have a genetic defect and was diagnosed at 29.

Hi Annie – I talked about this  with our pediatrician and my dermatologist at the skin cancer clinic after my diagnosis, as I was also paranoid about my kids.  FYI – I do not have a family history – but both recommended that I just keep an eye on their skin and any changes, as Janner mentioned.  They did not think they needed a dermatologic examination at their young ages (10 and under), but if anything came up obviously to bring them in for an exam.  They both really stressed having the kids wear sun-protective clothing, and sunscreen for the rest of their uncovered skin – for sun protection obviously, but also to set up good habits for when they are older.  Of course, my kids are no different than anyone else's – getting them to stay in one place to apply sunscreen is like torture for all of us.  So they recommended something fun – like the sunscreen foam, for them to put on themselves (with follow up from me).  Wish my parents had been this careful with my skin when I was little!

Hi Annie – I talked about this  with our pediatrician and my dermatologist at the skin cancer clinic after my diagnosis, as I was also paranoid about my kids.  FYI – I do not have a family history – but both recommended that I just keep an eye on their skin and any changes, as Janner mentioned.  They did not think they needed a dermatologic examination at their young ages (10 and under), but if anything came up obviously to bring them in for an exam.  They both really stressed having the kids wear sun-protective clothing, and sunscreen for the rest of their uncovered skin – for sun protection obviously, but also to set up good habits for when they are older.  Of course, my kids are no different than anyone else's – getting them to stay in one place to apply sunscreen is like torture for all of us.  So they recommended something fun – like the sunscreen foam, for them to put on themselves (with follow up from me).  Wish my parents had been this careful with my skin when I was little!

Hi Annie – I talked about this  with our pediatrician and my dermatologist at the skin cancer clinic after my diagnosis, as I was also paranoid about my kids.  FYI – I do not have a family history – but both recommended that I just keep an eye on their skin and any changes, as Janner mentioned.  They did not think they needed a dermatologic examination at their young ages (10 and under), but if anything came up obviously to bring them in for an exam.  They both really stressed having the kids wear sun-protective clothing, and sunscreen for the rest of their uncovered skin – for sun protection obviously, but also to set up good habits for when they are older.  Of course, my kids are no different than anyone else's – getting them to stay in one place to apply sunscreen is like torture for all of us.  So they recommended something fun – like the sunscreen foam, for them to put on themselves (with follow up from me).  Wish my parents had been this careful with my skin when I was little!

Hey, it's perfectly natural to worry about the kids. I just keep an eye on mine – I did ask doc to take a look at one largish mole on my daughter and he did, all ok and the advice is just to keep an eye out for changes.  Our kids experience of hte sun is very different to my own – I believe my melanoma is fully sun related and I've had many blistering burns. My kids haven't – and hopefully won't even ever have one. So relax and enjoy them for what they are – healthy, beautiful kids.

Hey, it's perfectly natural to worry about the kids. I just keep an eye on mine – I did ask doc to take a look at one largish mole on my daughter and he did, all ok and the advice is just to keep an eye out for changes.  Our kids experience of hte sun is very different to my own – I believe my melanoma is fully sun related and I've had many blistering burns. My kids haven't – and hopefully won't even ever have one. So relax and enjoy them for what they are – healthy, beautiful kids.

Hey, it's perfectly natural to worry about the kids. I just keep an eye on mine – I did ask doc to take a look at one largish mole on my daughter and he did, all ok and the advice is just to keep an eye out for changes.  Our kids experience of hte sun is very different to my own – I believe my melanoma is fully sun related and I've had many blistering burns. My kids haven't – and hopefully won't even ever have one. So relax and enjoy them for what they are – healthy, beautiful kids.